The UK subsidiary of energy giant SSE has been awarded funding worth £8.3 million by Ofgem to trial a local energy efficiency initiative in the Solent.

SSE Power Distribution (SSEPD) has joined forces with IT firm Maingate for the project, which will offer 4,000 householders a new energy efficiency technology to trial in their homes.

They will also provide incentives for consumers who make long term changes to their energy use.

Maingate will collect and analyse data on householders’ energy use (pictured) and share the information to encourage them to cut their consumption.

The ‘Solent Achieving Value from Efficiency’ (SAVE) project is also expected to provide Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) across Britain a range of tools to help them assess a particular network’s suitability for demand reduction through energy efficiency measures.

Stewart Reid, SEPD’s Future Network’s Manager said: “This project has the potential to completely change the relationship between Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and their customers and come up with a valuable suite of tools for GB DNOs.”